Method and device for controlling refrigerant distribution of multi-split air-conditioning system

ABSTRACT

A method and a device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system are disclosed in the present disclosure. The method includes: when the system enters a main heating mode, controlling the second electronic expansion valve to close; controlling an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment; when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches a maximum opening, calculating a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit; and controlling the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening. With the method, the cooling effect of the cooling indoor unit is ensured and the liquid strike on the compressor may be avoided under the main heating mode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national phase application based upon International Application No. PCT/CN2016/080246, filed on Apr. 26, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to air conditioner technology field, and more particularly to a method and a device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system.

BACKGROUND

When a multi-split air-conditioning system with two-pipe heating recycle is operating under a main heating mode, refrigerant is recooled via a heat exchanger, and then parts of the recooled refrigerant enters a low pressure pipe of an outdoor unit via an electronic expansion valve and another heat exchanger, and the rest of the recooled refrigerant finally enters the low pressure pipe of the outdoor unit after entering a cooling indoor unit to absorb heat via another electronic expansion valve.

Refrigerant volume entering the cooling indoor unit and discharge superheat of the cooling indoor unit will be affected by an opening of the electronic expansion valve. When the refrigerant volume entering the cooling indoor unit is reduced because of the inappropriate opening of the electronic expansion valve, the cooling effect of the cooling indoor unit will be affected; and when the discharge superheat is reduced because of the inappropriate opening of the electronic expansion valve, the liquid strike on a compressor will be caused and the compressor is damaged.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system is provided. The multi-split air-conditioning system includes: a re-cooling system including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve, and a flow distributing device. The method includes followings: when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode, controlling the second electronic expansion valve to close; controlling an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment; when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches a maximum opening, calculating a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit; and controlling the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system is provided. The multi-split air-conditioning system includes: a re-cooling system including a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve, and a flow distributing device. The device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system includes: a first control component, configured to control the second electronic expansion valve to close when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode; a second control component, configured to control an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment; a calculating component, configured to calculate a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and a maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches the maximum opening; and a third control component, configured to control the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a multi-split air-conditioning system is provided. The multi-split air-conditioning system includes: a re-cooling system, a flow distributing device and a controller. The re-cooling system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve. The controller is configured to: when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode, control the second electronic expansion valve to close; control an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment; when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches a maximum opening, calculate a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit; and control the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a multi-split air-conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail herein, and examples thereof are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Throughout figures referred by the following description, the same reference number in different figures indicates the same or similar elements unless otherwise stated. The embodiments described herein with reference to accompanying drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally interprete the present disclosure, but shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 2, the multi-split air-conditioning system includes: a re-cooling system and a flow distributing device. The re-cooling system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve.

As shown in FIG. 1, the method for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system includes followings.

In step S101, when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode, the second electronic expansion valve is controlled to close.

In step S102, an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit is controlled to perform an opening adjustment.

Generally, in a pure heating mode, the discharge superheat of an outdoor unit may be controlled by controlling an opening of the second electronic expansion valve. In the main heating mode, the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit and a refrigerant volume flowing into the cooling indoor unit are controlled by controlling the opening of the second electronic expansion valve and an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit. Specifically, the opening of the second electronic expansion valve and the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit may be calculated according to the refrigerant volume required by the cooling indoor unit for cooling. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the main heating mode, since the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit may also play the role of the second electronic expansion valve, i.e. the refrigerant through the cooling indoor unit, which is satisfied with the requirement of indoor cooling, will also obtain the superheat, such that the effect of avoiding the liquid strike on the compressor may be satisfied. Therefore the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit may be controlled preferentially in that mode, that is, in step S101, before controlling the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit to perform the opening adjustment, the second electronic expansion valve may be controlled to close, and then the control on the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit and the refrigerant volume flowing into the cooling indoor unit may also be realized.

In step S103, when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches a maximum opening, a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated according to a total opening and the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit.

When the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches the maximum opening, the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit may not be controlled. Then, the opening of the second electronic expansion valve needs to be adjusted to control the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit. Specifically, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by a formula of:

ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2))  (1),

where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve.

The total opening may be obtained by calculating in the pure heating mode. When the multi-split air-conditioning system enters the pure heating mode, the discharge superheat, the discharge temperature and the returned-gas superheat of the outdoor unit are controlled by the second electronic expansion valve, such that the reliability of the compressor is ensured and the liquid strike on the compressor is avoided. Specifically, when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters the pure heating mode, the discharge superheat is obtained; and the total opening is calculated using a PI algorithm according to the discharge superheat.

In step 104, the second electronic expansion valve is controlled according to the target opening.

The second electronic expansion valve is controlled according to the calculated target opening, such that the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit may be controlled.

With the method for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system in embodiments of the present disclosure, when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters the main cooling mode, first the second electronic expansion valve is controlled to close, the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit is controlled, and after the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches the maximum opening, the opening of the second electronic expansion valve is controlled according to the total opening. Therefore, the refrigerating capacity of the cooling indoor unit may be controlled by controlling the refrigerant volume flowing into the cooling indoor unit so as to ensure the cooling effect of the cooling indoor unit. Meanwhile, according to the control of the total opening, the discharge superheat is effectively controlled, such that the liquid strike on the compressor may be avoided, and the compressor is ensured to operate safely and reliably.

In order to realize the method for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system, a device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system is also provided in the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 2, the multi-split air-conditioning system includes: a re-cooling system and a flow distributing device. The re-cooling system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve.

As shown in FIG. 3, the device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system includes: a first control component 10, a second control component 20, a calculating component 30 and a third control component 40.

The first control component 10 is configured to control the second electronic expansion valve to close when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode. The second control component 20 is configured to control an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment.

Generally, in a pure heating mode, the discharge superheat of an outdoor unit may be controlled by controlling an opening of the second electronic expansion valve. In the main heating mode, the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit and a refrigerant volume flowing into the cooling indoor unit are controlled by controlling the opening of the second electronic expansion valve and an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit. Specifically, the opening of the second electronic expansion valve and the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit may be calculated according to the refrigerant volume required by the cooling indoor unit for cooling. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the main heating mode, since the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit may also play the role of the second electronic expansion valve, i.e. the refrigerant through the cooling indoor unit, which is satisfied with the requirement of indoor cooling, will also obtain the superheat, such that the effect of avoiding the liquid strike on the compressor may be satisfied. Therefore, the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit may be controlled by the second control component 20 preferentially in that mode, that is, before controlling by the second control component 20 the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit to perform the opening adjustment, the second electronic expansion valve may be controlled to close by the first control component 10, and then the control on the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit and the refrigerant volume flowing into the cooling indoor unit may also be realized.

The calculating component 30 is configured to calculate a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and a maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches the maximum opening.

When the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches the maximum opening, the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit may not be controlled. Then, the opening of the second electronic expansion valve needs to be adjusted to control the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit. Specifically, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by the calculating component 30 based on a formula of:

ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2))  (1),

where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve.

The total opening may be obtained by calculating in the pure heating mode. When the multi-split air-conditioning system enters the pure heating mode, the discharge superheat, the discharge temperature and the returned-gas superheat of the outdoor unit are controlled by the second electronic expansion valve, such that the reliability of the compressor is ensured and the liquid strike on the compressor is avoided. Specifically, when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters the pure heating mode, the discharge superheat is obtained; and the total opening is calculated using a PI algorithm according to the discharge superheat.

The third control component 40 is configured to control the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening.

The second electronic expansion valve may be controlled according to the calculated target opening by the third control component 40, such that the discharge superheat of the outdoor unit may be controlled.

With the device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system in embodiments of the present disclosure, when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters the main cooling mode, first the second electronic expansion valve is controlled to close, the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit is controlled, and after the opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches the maximum opening, the opening of the second electronic expansion valve is controlled according to the total opening. Therefore, the refrigerating capacity of the cooling indoor unit may be controlled by controlling the refrigerant volume flowing into the cooling indoor unit so as to ensure the cooling effect of the cooling indoor unit. Meanwhile, according to the control of the total opening, the discharge superheat is effectively controlled, such that the liquid strike on the compressor may be avoided, and the compressor is ensured to operate safely and reliably.

In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “central,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “axial”, “radial” and “circumference” should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present invention be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.

In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance or to imply the number of indicated technical features. Thus, the feature defined with “first” and “second” may comprise one or more of this feature. In the description of the present invention, “a plurality of” means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.

In the present invention, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “coupled,” “fixed” and the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may also be inner communications of two elements, which can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless specified or limited otherwise, a structure in which a first feature is “on” or “below” a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, and may also include an embodiment in which the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact with each other, but are contacted via an additional feature formed therebetween. Furthermore, a first feature “on,” “above,” or “on top of” a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right or obliquely “on,” “above,” or “on top of” the second feature, or just means that the first feature is at a height higher than that of the second feature; while a first feature “below,” “under,” or “on bottom of” a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right or obliquely “below,” “under,” or “on bottom of” the second feature, or just means that the first feature is at a height lower than that of the second feature.

Reference throughout this specification to phrases like “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment”, “another example,” “an example,” “a specific example,” or “some examples,” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the above phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles and scope of the present disclosure. 

1. A method for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system, wherein, the multi-split air-conditioning system comprises a re-cooling system and a flow distributing device, the re-cooling system comprises a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve, and the method comprises: when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode, controlling the second electronic expansion valve to close; controlling an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment; when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches a maximum opening, calculating a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit; and controlling the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the total opening is obtained according to following acts of: when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a pure heating mode, obtaining a discharge superheat; and calculating the total opening using a Proportional-Integral PI algorithm according to the discharge superheat.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by a formula of: ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2)), where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve.
 4. A device for controlling refrigerant distribution of a multi-split air-conditioning system, wherein, the multi-split air-conditioning system comprises a re-cooling system and a flow distributing device, the re-cooling system comprises a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve, and the device comprises: a first control component, configured to control the second electronic expansion valve to close when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode; a second control component, configured to control an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment; a calculating component, configured to calculate a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and a maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches the maximum opening; and a third control component, configured to control the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein, the total opening is obtained according to following acts: when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a pure heating mode, obtaining a discharge superheat; and calculating the total opening using a PI algorithm according to the discharge superheat.
 6. The device according to claim 4, wherein, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by a formula of: ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2)), where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve.
 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by a formula of: ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2)), where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve.
 8. The device according to claim 5, wherein, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by a formula of: ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2)), where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve.
 9. A multi-split air-conditioning system comprising a re-cooling system, a flow distributing device and a controller, the re-cooling system comprises a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and a second electronic expansion valve, and the controller is configured to: when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a main heating mode, control the second electronic expansion valve to close; control an electronic expansion valve corresponding to a cooling indoor unit to perform an opening adjustment; when an opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit reaches a maximum opening, calculate a target opening of the second electronic expansion valve according to a total opening and the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit; and control the second electronic expansion valve according to the target opening.
 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the total opening is obtained according to following acts of: when the multi-split air-conditioning system enters a pure heating mode, obtaining a discharge superheat; and calculating the total opening using a Proportional-Integral PI algorithm according to the discharge superheat.
 11. The system according to claim 9, wherein, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by a formula of: ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2)), where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve.
 12. The system according to claim 10, wherein, the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve is calculated by a formula of: ΔEXV2=EXV2(PI)-EV(cooling indoor)MAX*(A _(EV(cooling indoor)) /A _(EXV2)), where, ΔEXV2 is the target opening of the second electronic expansion valve, EXV2(PI) is the total opening, EV(cooling indoor)MAX is the maximum opening of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, A_(EV(cooling indoor)) is a valve circulating area of the electronic expansion valve corresponding to the cooling indoor unit, and A_(EXV2) is a valve circulating area of the second electronic expansion valve. 